Method of and apparatus for decorticating, retting, and scutching flax



Nov. 4, 1930. N. c. GRlGG 1,730,480 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING, BETTING, AND-SCUTCHING FLAX Filed Jan. 12, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I MM N. C. GRIGG Nov. 4, 1930.

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING, RETTING, AND SCUTCHING FLAX t P-lli 6 a. W Q a m Nov. 4, 1930. 1,780,480

METHODQF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING, BETTING, AND SCUTCHING FLAX N. c. GRIGG Filed Jan. 12, 1929 S'Sheets-Sheet 3 wru rae 4/6 66/66 Patented Nov. 4, 1930 NORMAN oEoIL enmegor DRYSDALLE, vroronra; TAUSYIRALIIA METHOD as man APPARAT S sole nsceerrcurme; Barr-tire, AND scorer- Ilse FLAx 1 Application filed January 12, 1929. Serial No. 332,073.

This invention relates 'toa'met hod of and y apparatus for fd'ecort-icating, retting and scutching or combing flax, and one ofits ob jects is to provide an improved method '5 whereby the processes of decorticating the raw fiax,rettingand drying-the decorticated flax and scutching the retted decorticated flax areautomaticallycarried out'in proper sequence. By following the method ofthe invention time and labour is considerably 'reduced the rate of production is accelerated and a continuous delivery of completely treated material is obtained. The vmethod of the invention is characterized by certain 1 individual steps and by combinations of steps as will be referred to hereinafteia,

Another; object of the invention is to provide apparatus for carrying the aforesaid 7 method into effect.

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus for treating flax in accordance with'theinvention.' The appa ratus is longitudinally "contracted and certain parts are shown in sectionfor convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan on the line Ila-II of Figure 1., n l p Figure 3 is an end 'view of the apparatus. Figure 4 is a detail view, inside elevation,

of means for supporting co-acting decorticating or crushing rollers. r y I I igure 5 is a detail viewofautomatically reversing mechanism for driving the crushing rollers.

Figure 6 isa detailof means for correcting any lag in thetravel of a conveyor by .which the material is carried towards and from the decorticating, retting and scutching devices. 7 f

Figures 7 and 8 are detail VlQWSiOf'ZtflilX holdeiya series of which are mounted on the conveyor. Figure pair of crushingv rollers and a scutching de vice. i

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross section-of a pair of crushing rollers and a modified scutching device.

9 is an enlarged crosssection of a a reference to the apparatus shown nthe draw- V :Figure 11 is an enlarged cross section of the first pair ofxcrushmgrollers and adjacent parts of the machine, showingmeans for di recting sheaves of flax to the rollers.

Figurel2 is a plan of gearing for convert-j ingtwoway rotation of the crushing rollers into one shaft; e i I a I Figure 13 is a face view of a gearing seen inF-igure 12v portionof the t Figure 14 is a detail of a preferred form of a reversible holder for the flare:

way rotation of a conveyor driving- .Figure15 is acontracte-d plan of Figure 14. v Figure 16'1is ja diagrammatic fside view illustratin the reversing of a -holderas seen in Figures 14: and 1 5. v

Figure 17 illustrates-means for reipro eating the combing devices.

, In accordance with this'inyention the flax is automaticallyand continuously fed forwards-to var ous dev ces whereby it 1s successively decorticated, fretted, dried and scutched, and is then delivered in the finished ,7 state ready for the market. The decorticating treatment crushes'the flax, the retting treatment dissolves out and removes the gum my matter from the flax, after which the flax" then scutched preferably bya combing action. Insomeinstances the flax may be subjected to an initial scutchingbetween'the decorticating and the rett-ing treatments;

An important feature; ofthe improved method .is that sheaves of the flax are carried forwardly during and between the various treatments by a contiiiuouslymoving conveyor and; are automatically discharged there-- from. at the delivery end. ,Another feature isthat' the'positions of the sheaves of flax are is dried by artificial heat-and pressure'and is I able devices comprising a spring 8 and screw 9, as seen in Figure 4, whereby the distance and pressure between the rollers of each pair may be regulated as required.

' Driving mechanism is provided whereby the rollers 3 may be alternately rotated in opposite directions so that the flax will be drawn first in one directionan'd then in the Lil other between the rollers. Such mechanism is indicated in Figure 5 and includes a main driving wheel 11 which is rotated continuously in one direction, a second wheel 13 preferably of larger diameter than the driving Wheel 11, a connecting rod 14 extending between said wheels, and adjustment means comprising a slotted arm 16 and turnbuckle 17 whereby continuous rotation of the wheel 11 in one direction imparts oscillating motion through the are 18, to the second wheel 13.

Thisoscillating movement may be transmitted to thecrushing rollers 3 by means of a pinion 19 mounted on a shaft 21 and meshing with'the wheel 13, said shaft 21 being provided with aplurality of bevel gears 22 adapted to engage gears 23 attached to the ends of the axles 4 of the rollers as seen in Figures 2 and 3. If desired only one roller of each pair need be positivelydriven, the other roller being idle but free to rotate. The bevel gears 22 may be arranged alternately on the shaft 21, as seen in Figure 2, so that alternate pairs of the rollers 3' will be driven in opposite directions.

Extending longitudinally of the framework 2 above the decorticating, retting and scutching devices is a conveyor which may consist of a pair of laterally spaced chains or bands 24. The'upper or rearwardly moving portions of the chains areadapted to engage driving sprockets 26 which are located respectively at the feeding anddelivery sta tions ofthe apparatus. The lower or forwardly moving portions of said chains pass around upper and lower setsof guide sprockets-27 and 28preferably arranged in such a manner that the flax which is attached to the chains is carried alternately vertically downwards towards the respective decorticating, retting and scutching devices and diagonally upwards therefrom. The upper set of sprocket wheels 27 may be driven by suitable means from the wheel 13.

In order to attach the flax in stricks or sheaves 29 to'the conveyor 24 Iprovide on automatically draws the inate al bet the latter a series of holders 30 (see particularly Figures 7 and 8) each of which may comprise a pair of small transverse gripping rollers 31, preferably of rubber or having rubber sleeves, the spindles 32 of which may be mounted in slot-ted bearing blocks 33 having adjustable spring devices (not shown) similar to those previously described for supporting the crushing rollers 3. By this means the sheaves 29 may be held adjacent one end with the desired degree of pressure between said gripping rollers 31. The bearing blocks 33 may be mounted on carriers 34 pivotally attached, as at 36, to the conveyor chains 24 so that the carriers and parts attached thereto may swing in relation to the conveyor for a purpose which will be apparent hereinafter.

One of the spindles 32 of each pair of gripping rollers 31 may be provided at either or both ends with. a toothed pinion 38 meshing with second pinion 39, which is adapted to engage toothed racks 41 (Figure 1) located in the path of. said pinion 39 at suitable positions in the length of the forwardly moving portionsof said conveyor chains 24 so that,

after the flax has been sufliciently treated from its free end, it may be automatically moved lengthwise by and through the rotated gripping rollers 31, and gripped adjacent the treated end. further treated from the untreated end and ensures that the whole of the material is effectively treated. One of the racks is preferably arranged so that after the has been passed between oneor more pairs of the crushing rollers 3, it is reversed in its holder so as to be treated from the other end by a subsequent pair or pairs of rollers 3. Other racks 41 may be arranged to reverse the position or". the flax in its holders between successive retting treatments and between successive scutching treatments.

Additional racks 42, 43, may be conven iently arranged at the feeding and delivery stations of the apparatus to thereby automatically rotate the grip sing rollers 31 as they a )proach said stations. To apply the flax to the gripping rollers itis merely necessary for an operator to feed a sheave length- .ise to the space between two of the gripping rollers as they approach the loading station at the left hand side of Figure 1. The porary rotation of the rollers, due to them by which it is tightly similar manner the rotation of the rollers as they pass by the delivery station causes the treated material to be automatically discharges.

It is desirable to positively rotate both gripping rollers 31 of each pai and for this reason the pinion 33 on one roller may mesh with. a pinion on the other roller.

In order to maintain the gripping roller carriers 34 in proper positions at all parts This enables the material to be- After the flax has been passed betwe suiiicient number of pairs of crushing roll nose 46. In travelling, the curved nose of each carrier first makes contact with appropriately disposed guiderails or members 4?,

which swing the carriers abouttheir pivots.- slidin neath each pair offldryingrollers55. An additional combor J'combs 48 may be disposed so as to bring the side lugs it into contact with saidgulde rails 5L7.

it is subjected to rotting treatment, which is preferablyaccomplished by dipping the flax into arettin li uid and thenks ueezin the flax to thereby express the glutinous matter which has been separatedby the netting liquid." Theirettlngliquld may be conta ned 111 tanks 4:5 supported by the framework Pairs. of squeezing rollers 50,. supported by bearings 50?, may extend transversely across the tops of the tanks, these rollers, vorone oi eachpair, being rotated alternately in oppo- 1 bevel site directions through'the' medium of gears 50' fromthe shaftQl;

lVhen the decorticat-ed flaxapproaches each pair of the rollers50 the latterare rotating in such directionthatthefiaX will-be'directed downwardly by and between the rollers into n the rotting liquid. As the flax commencesto rise, throngh'the holder '30 rounding the re I spective lower/guide sprocket 28,.the dinestionof rotation of therollers 50. is reversed so as to facilitate the withdrawal of; the Iflax from the: liquid, and at the same. time express the glutinous matter and most of the rett-ing liquid from the fiaX. The rollers -are shown fluted, but as their purpose is, merely ;to'

squeeze the flax; they may be plain if desired. Each sheave. of fiax mayundergo several retting treatments, and, by the appropriate arrangement of a rack all adapted to engage the pinion, 39 011 the respective holder 30 I aforementioned thepositiongof the lsheavein relation to the gi'ipl'aing rollers 3l may be automatically reversed between successiveret t ng actions. If the finally rettedfiax' s too 5 moist it may be dried before bei'ng scutched or combed. Drying-is preferably el fected by the combined action: of hea t and mechanical pressure, by causmgpthe retted flax'to pass between heated rollers These drying rollers maybe hollow and-heated internally'by gas, steam or other heating lllfiClllllTlWlllCll l may. be conveyed to the rollers by a main suil ioe 55?- and branch iaes 55". The

latter may have outlet-orifices 'tor the steam I or gasand may form supports for the-adjacent ends 1 of the rollers. the other ends of which have stub axles 55% One rollerof eachpair may be positively rotated by bevel gears drying. rollers .55. it .may be automatically reversed .in its holder. by the appropriate positioningof a rack lto engage a pinion 39 of; the holder. wh reas referredyso thatthe.

beneath the crushing rollers 3; as indicated in Figures 1,; 2 and 9., The action o'flthe combs *is preferablyarranged so that just before each sheaf-29icommences to move backwards between :the respective pair of crushing rollers 3 or. the drying rollers: 55,

the respectivefcomb is moved forwardly into; positiongso that its teeth 49-pass through the material. as the latter is drawn upwardly,

To automatically move the combs into and .out of operativepositions one crushing roller 8"(or dryi1ig roller 55)'of eachpair maybe provided with twostrikers 52, 53,- (Figure 9) adapted during-the first revolution of ;.the roller in each directionto engagea proj ectioii 545 on the comb and move the latterin the ap propriatedirectioni along-itszguide 51. The

strikers may bepivoited and have'stops .56

adapted to keep each striker rigid when it en-1 gagesfthe projection 54c Whilst the roller- 3;-

- or 55) is movingin one directionbut allows it to yield against a spring 57'when the striker and its roller 3 -(or 55) are moving inthe other direction. V

In order to keep the comb teeth clean, a perforated plate 58 may be; arranged: adj acent and'opposite'each comb so that the teeth tions 59 before entering the material 29. Thus as the combs are withdrawn from the material they return throughthe perforated plates which effectively remove anysap; pith or other. matter adhering to the teeth.-

After the fiax has been finally. dried. and combed;.-it' isfoarried upwardly by 'theconveyorto {the delivery station Where thesraek 4L3 successively engages the pinion 39of 'each flax holder, thus rotating the grippingFroll v ers 31 and causing thetreated material to be automatically discharged. xAny suitable means may be provided at the' delivery;.sta-' ion 49 thereof are passedthroughythe perfora tion for'collecting the" discharged material'.

To-ensure that the material 29 is eifective ly directed between the first pair of crushing rollers 13, 1-,may provideco-acting directors, ,.(Figure 11)'im-mediately above the. first rollers. One ofthese directorsmay comprise a transverselyIextending. plate- 61: hinged or pivoted as atl62 andnormally pressed by a spring 63 into the-unbrokenline position in Figure 11 and adapted to-be engagedzby the: gripping roller carriers 34; as they approach the crushing rollers; and thus moved into an outofithe way position'as indicated'in broken lines..- The other director may consist of an i opposed plate fitwhich may be curved; lif so desired, and pivoted as at 66 so that it may be moved automatically by suitable operative connections into and out of position. Such directors will not be required for subsequent crushing rollers as after the first crushing action the material is sufiiciently straightened out or stiffened.

If desired, the aforesaid combs 48 or some of them may be dispensed with and substituted by pairs of'rotary scutchers 68as seen in Figure 10. These rotary scutchers may have suitable blades 69 and be rotated at a suitable speed, preferably in one direction, by any suitable connections from the main source of power.

A collecting trough 71, fitted with a screwconveyor 72, may extend longitudinally of the machine beneath the crushing rollers, in

rollers as the conveyor 24 moves upwardly from the adjacent lower guide sprockets 28 and carries the flax therewith. For this purpose, the shaft 21 driving the various rollers may also be utilized to drive the conveyor 24 by the intermediary of a suitable arrangement of gearing 73 adapted to translate the automatic reversing drive of theshaft 21 into a continuous one way drive for the conveyor. V M

This gearing 3, which is shown in Figures 12 and 13, may include two driving wheels 76, 77,which may be mounted on an extension 4 of the aXle 4 of one of the positively driven crushing rollers 3. One wheel 7 6 meshes with a wheel 78 which is freely mounted on a driven shaft 79,'whilstthe wheel 77meshes with an idle pinion 81 which in turn meshes with a second free wheel 82 on theshaft 79, which may be connected by belt, chain or any other suitable driving means with the driving sprockets 26 of the conveyor. The twofree wheels 78, 82' are provided with pawls 83, 84, (which may be pivoted to arms 86, 87 on the free wheels) adapted to engagethe teeth of a gear 88 fixed to the shaft 79 between said free wheels. The arrangement is such that according to the direction in which the positively driven rollers 3, 50 and 55 are being rotated, so will one or other of the pawls 83, 84, take up the drive and thus rotate the shaft 79 always in the same direction, and atja speed which is the same as the speed of the positively driven rollers. The gearing 73 is supported by a suit able frame 80.

Notwithstanding such an arrangementfor providing a synchronized rate of speed of the rollers and the conveyor, the latter may through wear, stretching or other causes tend to lag slightly. To counteract any such lag in the travel of the conveyor, I may provide a compensating device including a disc 88 fixed onto the shaft 25 (see Figure 6) and provided with a series of circumferentially spaced teeth 89 adapted to be engaged by a gravity pawl 91 mounted on an arm 92 which is free to rotate on the shaft 25. A suitable predetermined to and fro movement may be imparted to the arm 92 by means of a connecting rod 93 extending to arocker arm (not shown) which may be adapted to periodically engage a roller carried bythe main driving wheel ll, whereby, in the event of the conveyor 24 lagging in. relation to the rotation of the rollers '3, 50 and 55, the pawl 91 engages one ofthe teeth 89 on disc 88 and thus imparts an additional movement to the shaft 25 and the conveyor.

According to Figures 14 to 16, which illust'ratesfa preferred form of flax holder, means are providedfor reversing the position of the holdersabout their pivotal mountings 36 on the conveyor, whereby after the flax has been moved lengthwise through a pair of gripping rollers'31, as before mentioned,'it still hangs centrally from between said rollers instead of passing around one of the rollers as seen in Figure 1'. This arrangement positively ensures that the entire length of the flax will be subjected to the various treatments.

In accordance with this embodiment the aforesaid sidelugs or extensions 44 and the associated curved nose 46 are dispensed with I whilst each holder is provided with outstanding balancing arms 94, 95 extending at right angles to the gripping rollers 31 which may be mounted in detachable bearings 33". The holders are pivotally mounted on the conveyor chains by means of pivot pins or bolts 36 which may pass through the links of 1 the conveyor chains, as seen in Figure 15, and each pivot pin is slidably and rotatably accommodated within elongated slots 96 formed in the oppositely disposed end plates 97 of the holders. These end plates may be maintained in position by bars 98 secured to the end plates by screws or the like.

In thismanner the arms 94, 95 tendto maintain the holders in either a normal or a reversed position on the chains according to the particular position of the pivot pins 36 which are free to move longitudinally to either end of the aforesaid slots 96. The arms are also adapted to slidably engage the various guide rails 47 for the purpose before mentioned.

In operation the conveyor carrying the fiax holders, after passing diagonally upwards from a lower sprocket 28, may be passed around an intermediate guide no 7 .o device ordev1cesofeach of'saidv serles of sprocket ("not shown) so that the holders preferably approach the reversing rack 41 a in a substantially vertical' direction as seen 4i ,sists 1n attaching sheaves of flax to a conholder after in the left hand portion of Figure 16. When I nearing the upper sprocket 27, one of the bars 9S "of the flax holder engages afoot 99 of a leg 101 attached to the framework.

, This arrangement causes the flaxholder to swing about its pivot" pins '36 whereby the slots 96 assume a substantially horizontal attitude so that when passing the sprocket wheel '27 the pivot pinsare caused to move longitudinally to theopposite end of the slots 96. After the holder has passed the rack and the flax has been reversed as before mentioned, the new position of the pivot pins withintheir slotsalters the balance of. the

holder and causes it to swing about the pivot pins and assume an attitude which is reversed to that inwhich it approached the rack, as indicated in the righthand portion of Figure 16. Thus the balancing arm 95 which depended from the holderwhen appreaching the rack now .upstands from the sprocket 27; c

-According to a modification, as seen in" Figure 17 for actuating the combs 1n unison,

each of thecombs l8is suitably connected to a sliding rod or rods'102 which may be located on opposite sides of the machine.

Longitudinal reciprocation maybe imparted to the rod 'or rods by means of a rocker arm 103 which may be actuated by suitable gearin'g'104 from the I oscillating shaft 13 of the wheel 13. 1

'Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A method of treating flax which conveyor at longitudinally spaced positions thereof, causing the :conveyor to feed each sheafsuccessively to series of decorticating ,-dev1ces, retting devl'ces'and scutching devices, and varying the attitudeof each'sheaf on the conveyor after a portion of the sheaf hasbeen acted upon by one or more devices of each seriesso that the other portion of the sheaf 1 will be acted upon by the other devices.

2. In'apparatus for treating flax, separate r devices for operating on'theflax, an endless conveyor, holders applied to said conveyor at longitudinally spaced positions to grip the flax, driving means andguiding means for said conveyor so arranged thatithas a rearwardly'moving upperportion and a forwardly movinglower portion, thegui'ding means for said lower portion comprlsing upperand lower setsof guide members,;wl1ereby the flax carried by said lower portion is caused to pass alternately downwards towards each separate device and upwardly therefrom.

passing around the next flax from the holders after it upon by call of said devices! 3. In apparatus for treating flax, series of separatedevicesarranged in side by side for- V :mation for treating the flaX,,an endless conveyor extending longitudinallyabove said series of devices and having a rearw'ar dly' moving upper portion and a forwardly moving lower portion, holders applied to said conveyor at longitudinally spaced positions to grip the flax, and upper and lower sets adapted to grip sheaves o'fthe flax at one end, upper and lower setsof guide. members;

for said conveyor whereby 'each sheaf while suspendedfrom said holders is caused to pass alternately [downwards towards each device of each series and thence upwardlyyandi means adapted to automatically reverse the position of the holders after each sheaf has been acted upon by one or more of the devicesof each series so that it may be subse quently acted upon from: its previously of each-series. I v

'5. Inapparatus for treating flax, series of devices arranged inside byside-formation for treating'the flax, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally above said series of gripped endby theother device or devices devices and having a. rearwardly movingupper portion andfal forwardly moving lower portion, holders applied to said conr veyor at longitudinally spaced positions to grip sheav s of the flax at one end,

thelower: portion of the conveyor wherebyv the flax while suspended from said holders "is caused to passialternately downwards to wards each device of each series-and thence upwardly, means adapted-to automatically upper andlowerjsetsjofguide members for c reverse the position 'of each sheaf in its, holderv after the sheaf has been'acted upon byone or more of the devices of each series so that it may be.subsequentlyacted' upon from its previously:- gripped end by the other device or devices of eachseries, and means for automatically releasing the completely treated 6. 1n epparatusfor treating flax,series of decortlcating devices, retting devices and scutching devices arranged in side by side for has been acted v mation gan. endless conveyor extending longi mummy above'said series of devices, flax holders extending transversely on saidconveyor longitudinally; spaced positions,

driving and guiding means for said conveyor I or strick of flax at one end, guiding means 'Whereby the flax is fed to each of said decorticating, retting and scutching devices in successlon, and automatic means for freeing and dlscharging the flax from lts holders after it has'been'acted upon by all of said devices. l

7. In apparatus for treatingflax, series of decorticating devices, retting devices, drying, and scutching devices arranged in side by side formation, a conveyor extending longitudinally above the said series of devices,

holders on said conveyor at longitudinally spaced positions each adapted togrip a sheaf for said conveyor whereby each sheaf or strick is fed in succession to said seriesof decorticating, retting, drying and scutching devices, and means adapted toautomatically reverse the positions of each sheaf in its 'holder after it has been acted upon by one or more of the devices of'each series and to gripsaid sheaf at its opposite or treated end so that the sheaf may be further acted upon from its previously untreated end by the other device or devices of each series.

,8. In apparatus for treating flax, decorticating, retting and drying devices, each of said devices embodying co-acting rollers, reversible driving means for said devices, a eonveyonholders at spaced positions on said conveyor for gripping flax, means for guid-- ing' the conveyor, and means for driving said conveyor in one direction whereby the flax is successively fed towards and passes first inone direction and then in the other between the rollers of each device of the said series. 7

9. In apparatus for treatlns flax, SQIlQS'OZE decorticating devices, rettlng devices, drying-- and scutching devices, each of said devices embodying two co-acting rollers, automatically reversible driving means for said devices, a conveyor, holders at spaced positions on said conveyor forqgrippingflax, means for guiding the conveyor, and means fordriving sald conveyor at a substantially constant speed in one direction whereby the is successively fed towards and passes first in one direction and then in the other between the rollers of each device of the said series. ii

10. In apparatus for treating flax, decortieating, retting, artificial drying and scutching devices, each including a roller, driving means for rotating each roller alternately in opposite directions, a conveyer, and means to convert the two way or reversing motion of said driving means into'snbstantially constant one way motion of said conveyor,

whereby the flax is fed forward and acted upon successlvelyby said decortlcatlng, rettin dr in andscutchim devices while the 237 y b 23 V flax is being moved by said conveyor.

11. In apparatus for treating flax, decorticating, retting, artificial drying and sc'utching devices each including a roller, driving means adapted to rotate each roller alternately in opposite dlrections, a conveyor,

means converting the two. way or reversing motion of said driving means into substantially constant one Way motion of said c0n-. veyor whereby the flax is fed forward and acted upon successively by said decorticating, retting, drying and scutching devices while the flax islbeing moved by said conveyor, and means adapted to automatically correct any lag in the rate of travel of said conveyor relative tothespeed of rotation of said rollers.

12. In apparatus for treating flax, rotting means comprising one or more tanks for containing a retting liquid, one or more pair of rollers each extending across the top of a retting tank, meansfor rotating one roller of each pair alternately in opposite directions, a conveyor extending above said retting means, means for attaching flax to said the flax is fed successively towards each pair of rollers and passes between them first into and then out of the retting liquid, the rollers subjecting the flax to squeezing, and means adapted to automatically vary the position of the flax on the conveyor after it has been acted on by one or more pairs'of said rollers so'that portions of the flax prevented from being treated by said-rollers are brought into a'position to be subsequently treated by the other pair or pairs ofrollers.

14., In'apparatus for treating flax, retting means comprising one or more tanks for containing a rett1ngl1qu1d,and one or more palrs of rollers extending across the top of a tank,

drying means comprising one or more pairs ofr'ollers having associated heating means, driving means for rotating one roller of each pair alternately in opposite directions, a con veyor extending abovesaid retting and drying means, means for attaching flax to said conve or and drivin and uidin means for conveyor whereby the flax is fed towards.

each pair of rollers located above the tank and passes between them first into and then out of the liquid, said rollers subjecting the retted flax to squeezing, and the flax is then caused to pass in each direction between said heated rollers. I

15. In apparatus for treating flax, sepajers between which a sheaf of gripped, pin and slot means for connecting a each carrier to said conveyor so that the balrate devices for acting onvthe flax, a conveyor, flax holders on the conveyor, each holder 1neluding a pivoted carrier and a pair of gripping rollers between which a sheaf of flax may begripped, and' means located between any adjacent two of said devices for rotating said gripping rollers and for swinging said pivoted carrier into areverse attltude, tor the ance of the carrier is varied according-to the longitudinal movement of each pin in its slot, and means located between any adjoining two of said devices for rotating said gripping rollers and for engaging said carrier to shift its point of balance so that it will swing into a reversed position, for the purpose specified.

17. A method of treating flax which con sists in continuously and uninterru'ptedly' conveying the flax from a point at which the flax is in a non-treated condition to a point at which the flax is in a finallytreat'ed condition, and subjecting the flax during this travel successively to decorticating, retting vand scutching, the flax during this travel be- 1 111g subjected in part to each particular treatment and immediately thereafter subjected in the remaining part to the same treatment whereby the flax is wholly subjected to each treatment without interrupting the continuous travel of the flax from the point of nonv treatment to the point of complete treatment. 18. A method of treating flax which consists in the uninterrupted and continuous travel. of the flax in separate unit masses from a point of non-treatment to a point of complete treatment, subjecting each unit mass during its travel to decort icating, rettingand scutching, each unit being initially subjected in part to a particular treatmentand immedie ately thereafter subjected to a mentin the remaining part whereby at the a point of final treatment the entire mass of similar treateafch unit has been completely subjected to each treatment without interrupting the continuous travel of the units. Intestimony whereof I aflix NORMAN CECIL GRIGG.

sepamy signature. 

